Whether you're a DFS (Digital Fantasy Sports) player or a regular basketball fan, you'll want to learn how to watch NBA live streams for free. After all, this is indeed the hallowed American men's professional basketball league.
So how do we watch such games without purchasing a horribly overpriced NBA League Pass membership? Fret not, free sites for streaming NBA matches do exist, but getting to them can sometimes be a little complicated.
Watch NBA Live Streams for Free With a VPN
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1. Stream2Watch Live NBA Streams
Stream2watch is a top-rated site that lets viewers watch NBA games for free. However, it spreads focus among multiple sports, including live NBA games, Hockey, Baseball, Soccer, Football, and Tennis. So, if you're interested in any of these, this could be the site for you.
This website works on mobile and desktop devices; it's entirely free without any limitations. It offers high-quality HD live sports streaming. The overall quality, including the audio, is good especially given that this is a free site. Having said this, nothing comes absolutely free, as you'll be bombarded by Ads. You can manually close them or use an Ad Blocker.
Multiple streams are available for popular events, so availability is seldom an issue. Stream2watch has also implemented a live group chat functionality that allows users to chat with one another when watching live events worldwide.
The chat supports intelligent auto-moderation to help keep spammers and vulgar people from ruining the experience. Although this website claims to be legal, this remains in the grey area. In general, a good and decent site where you can watch your favorite NBA games for free.
Visit the Stream2Watch website
2. Crackstreams NBA Channel
NBA CrackStreams is a free sports live streaming website. It is a website that organizes live streams of the biggest and latest sporting events. Being an easy-to-navigate platform, this is where you can find plenty of sports events free of charge. You can watch NBA live or even the NFL, UFC tournaments, MMA, and boxing matches.
The great thing is that you don't need to enter any of your information to watch the free streams. Click on the sports NBA streams you want, and head to a “Live Streams and Schedule” page. Choose the game you wish to watch and click “Watch Now.” Another page opens on your browser with a screen. Click the Play icon in the middle of the screen and wait for the video to load.
The stream and site quality leaves much to be desired, but in all fairness, this is still a straightforward and easy-to-use site. The site keeps the stream links up-to-date, which is good. But, if you expect the highest-quality experience, you may be disappointed.
As far as stream quality goes, you can expect it to be somewhat inconsistent. Sometimes everything will be pitch-perfect. At other times it may freeze, get laggy, or buffer.
The biggest problem is the constant deluge of popup ads once you click on a stream link. If you click on a link that doesn't do what it's supposed to, close the spam link and try again.
Important Note: Crackstreams NBA is a great place to watch NBA games for free. That means everything from the playing to playoffs. However, it frequently shifts URLs. We'll do our best to keep this updated with their latest address.
Visit Crackstreams NBA Channel
3. Buffstreams NBA
BuffStreams is also another top-rated HD stream for NBA games. Aside from basketball games, you can also watch NFL, MMA, and Boxing streams. Select the video you wish to watch, and another page will appear. Click the Play icon, and you'll be directed to another page that states that the video will load in 5s.
If this is your first time accessing, you'll need to register a FREE account by keying in your email address and password. Even though this is a free access membership account, you'll still be required to provide your credit card details which I am not exceptionally comfortable with.
Additionally, there is some buffering encountered with this service which can be a little frustrating as you'll need to refresh frequently. At times, the video can freeze, but this is still manageable. Pop-Ups appear when you click to watch or on a game, so use an Adblocker. The online chat room is one of the best, though.
Visit Buffstreams
4. NBA Stream
NBA Stream (NBAStream.net) is dedicated to providing live streams of only NBA games. Their layout is pretty neat and organized well based on your favorite teams. You can click on your team and be directed to another page that will load the video. Click the Play icon, and another screen will appear.
If this is your first time accessing, you'll need to register a FREE account by keying in your email address and password. After which, you'll be required to provide your credit card details even though this is a free access membership account. Again, you'll need to ask yourself if you are comfortable with this.
Overall, this is likely a legit site. Having said this, always tread cautiously, especially when accessing sites offering free services.
Note: NBA Stream is not the same as the Reddit NBA Streams website. They're both different, although offering similar content. Click here for the NBA Streams website. It's another awesome NBA streaming alternative.
Go to NBA Stream
5. NBABite Live Streams
NBABite is a website that provides links to watch NBA streams for free. It has been around since 2009 and has become one of the most popular links to watch live NBA streams. Aside from NBA, there is also a wide range of sports videos covering the NFL, NHL, soccer, and more.
There's a good list of streams (apparently compiled by Redditors) supporting each NBA game but what's available depends on your luck. Thankfully I've noticed at least a few high-quality functional streams. These are easy to find since they get tons of “Thank Yous” and quickly bumped up the list to the top.
Video quality varies depending on the stream you choose. The majority seem to be in HD broadcast, so you'll want to pay attention to the bitrate instead. Unless you choose an NBA stream that's far down the list, you'll not get any real lemons.
One thing to note is the prevalence of ads, but even these are clearly stated before you click the stream link. You can see how many ads to expect once you click the link – though I notice it's not always correct. Adblockers may result in unusable streams, so you'll have to disable yours.
How to Watch NBA Games for Free in 2023
You can watch many NBA games for free by using the right tools. You only need a VPN and streaming channels that provide free access to watch live NBA games. The list above is the best I've found, but remember that these channels often suffer service outages.
If you want to watch NBA online more reliably, then an official channel or paid service will be a better choice. Streaming services like Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, and DIRECTV NOW offer comprehensive packages that include access to your local channels — including sports networks like ESPN and TNT — and national channels like NBCSN, FS1, Fox Sports Regional Networks, and CBS Sports Network.
Sadly, these services can cost from $40-$50 per month and might be unaffordable for some.
Are There Free NBA Streaming Sites With No Ads?
Most websites that offer NBA streaming for free are ad-supported. Since they don't change subscriptions there needs to be a way for them to recoup their cost of providing the streaming service to you and other users.
However, some legitimate streaming platforms may offer free trials or limited-time access to NBA games without ads. For example, some TV providers and cable companies offer free access to NBA games for a limited time, and some streaming services like Hulu, Sling TV, and FuboTV may offer free trials that include access to live NBA games.
It's also worth noting that the NBA itself offers some free live games on its official website and mobile app, including some preseason games and select regular season games.
Use a VPN to Watch NBA Live Streams
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Many of the best free sports streaming websites are unavailable in certain countries, and they come with some limitations. Geo-restriction is usually the first obstacle you must bypass, so you'll need to use a VPN to access such Geo-Blocked websites.
The VPN is necessary to bypass these geo-restrictions and protect yourself if you connect to a website with copyright infringement issues. Free sports streaming sites usually put your privacy at risk, and you need an extra layer to protect your privacy.
Once your VPN is on, you will have access to any content online, no matter where you are. Your traffic is encrypted, and your privacy is also protected. So, you'll need to get a good and reliable VPN. Then connect to a VPN server in the country of the sports streaming site that broadcasts the live sports event.
It'll seem like you are connecting from that very country. It is always best to go for reputable and good VPNs such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. You'll have loads of fun cheering for your favorite teams.
Check out our list of the Best VPNs you can use to stream NBA live games.
What if You Miss the NBA Live Streams?
If you've missed the free NBA live streams of your favorite teams on the sites above, all is not lost. Some sites allow you to watch NBA replays, even entire games. The best one I know of is NBA TV REPLAYS. It's a verified site; even Reddit NBA fans think it's great. Oh yeah, and it's free as well.
The downside is that the replay media sizes are limited to HD quality (720p), which doesn't make for the best NBA viewing experience. You'll likely need the NBA League Pass if you want better-quality NBA replays.
Getting the NBA League Pass for Cheap
The NBA League Pass allows you to do everything from watching NBA live streams to replays and more for $129.99/yr. That, however, is quite a big chunk of change to cough up. If you're still interested there are some ways you can get the NBA League Pass for cheap if you've got the patience.
Here are some things you can try;
Wait for Promotional Deals
The NBA often runs promotional deals throughout the season, including discounts on the NBA League Pass. You can keep an eye out for these deals on the NBA's official website or social media pages.
Sign Up For the NBA Pass Free Preview
The NBA offers a free preview for the League Pass, which allows you to watch several games for free. You can sign up for the free trial and cancel before the trial period ends to avoid being charged.
Look for Student Discounts
If you're a student, you may be eligible for a discount on the NBA League Pass. Check the NBA's official website or contact their customer service to inquire about student discounts.
Purchase the Single-team Package
If you only want to watch games of a specific team, you can purchase the single-team package, which is cheaper than the full NBA League Pass.
Use a VPN
If you're outside of the US, you can use a VPN to access the NBA League Pass at a cheaper price in other countries. However, make sure to read the terms and conditions of the NBA League Pass to ensure that you're not violating any rules or regulations.
Reducing Buffering and Load Times When Streaming NBA Games for Free
When trying to watch NBA live streams, there's nothing more frustrating than those moments when you miss the big play because your stream is buffering. Before adjusting everything else, test your Internet connection to see if you're getting what you paid for.
To test your Internet speed, visit a site like Speedtest.net (link in Resources) and click “Begin Test” to see how fast your connection is. You may want to run the test several times at various times of the day, as ISPs typically throttle connections during peak traffic hours. If the results are consistently lower than what you're paying for, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for assistance with improving your connection speed.
Other things you can try include;
- Choose a lower video quality setting
- Reset your modem and router
- Upgrade or replace your router
- Change your DNS settings (1.1.1.1 is a good option)
- Use Chrome as your web browser
Investing in a decent wireless router is a good idea if you're watching many games. I'm using the Asus AX86U and love it, thanks to its Gigabit wireless speeds. However, if you prefer something more budget-friendly, its older cousin, the Asus AC86U, is also an excellent choice.
Also, Read;
- Best Sites to Stream Live Football
- Best Sites to Watch NHL
- Best Sites to Watch NFL
- Best Sites to Watch UFC
- Watch Free Boxing Streams Online
Watching NBA Live Streams for Free is Possible
The NBA is the most popular professional sports league in the United States. The league has had a huge influence on American culture and society. Many people love basketball, but it can be hard to watch games if you don't have cable or satellite TV. This is where free NBA live streams and VPNs come into play.
They are required to bypass such geo-restrictions and also to protect yourself in the case you connect to a website that has copyright infringement issues. Also, you can access all major sports channels from all over the world for free to watch any of your favorite sports and support your team by watching their matches live.
